Coupler and draft gear



Oct. 16, 19 34. F. H. KAYLER COUPLER AND DRAFT GEAR Filed Feb. 28; 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmww Fail/LE I F. H. KAYLER COUPLER AND DRAFT GEAR Filed Feb. 28. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 16, 1934 COUPLER AND rArENr are: Y

DRAFT GEAR Frank H Kayler, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a cor-' poration of New Jersey Application February 28,

1929, Serial No. 343,263

. 17 Claims. ((11. 213- 42) invention 1 pertains to j railway rolling stock; and mor e particularly to improvementsin draft appliances for use on railway cars. In the earliest developments in railway draft gears that employed frictional resisting elements, it wa'sfthe' practice to employ wedge means positioned between and housed within two longitudinal beams positioned under the car that constituted the car sill. As the need for an increased capacity in railroad cars grew and with the development of improved locomotives with larger pulling capacity, the need for a draft gear with an increased capacity was also occasioned. The standard car designs provide for a specific type of car sill with a definite space between the beams thereof, whichprevented satisfaction of this need by merely increasingthe size of the devices used at that'time. If'such a practice were followed, the car sills would have necessarily been increased to a size undulyl'arge and expensive and out of proportion to the other uses for the sills in car.construction. 7

One answerjto these requirements was the de visinglof draft gear employing frictional wedging memberswhich have at least two sides in frie tional contact for asingle wedge, and have a suficientcapacity'foreflicient operation on cars ofincreasedcapacity, and can be installed for operation connection with' the standard A. R: A. car sill, all as particularly set forthand 7739 described in Patent No. 1,644,6

There is another type of draft gear which embodies very desirable and advantageous features, whichdraft gear is known as'the swivel butt arrangement and comprises means disposed between'the coupler butt and the draft gear or yoke, providing maximumhearing area for the transmission of buff stresses, particularly between the couplerand draft gear. ,Itis therefore an object of this invention to provide a draft gearwhich embodies all the advantages of the first type of. draft gear in addition .to all of the advantages of the swivel butt arrangement of draft gear. v v i '45 Another object of the invention is to provide a draft gear having .a plurality of maximum bearing .area meansfor transmitting stresses through maximum areas from the coupler to the draft gear in: either buff .or draft, the bearing 0 area means including members providing maximum resistance to movement of the coupler in either draft or buff. r v

' A-further object is to provide a'yoke for a draft gear, said yokebeing providedwitha means providing maximum area for transmission of stresses from the coupler to the draft gear.

a A still further object is to provide a draft ap plianoe of the first type which is'adapt ed to be used with the usual Farlow type of coupler, means being provided 'cooperating with the coupler and draftgear whereby a maximum area is provided for the transmission of stressesfrom the coupler to the draft gear.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features 'of construction and'operation, as will be more fully described and particularly'pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appendedhereto.- 5 In'the drawings, which illustrate an embodi ment of'the device and wherein'like reference characters are used to designate like parts j Figure 1 is' a fragmentary sectional top i plan view of a portion of thedraft sillan'd associated structure of a railway carfprovided with a draft appliance which is the subject-matter of this invention; 7

Figure 2 is a top plan view, siniilarto Figure 1, showing the position of "cooperation between the various elements of the draft'gear, y'okeand coupler under a position of 'draftf- Figure 3 is a top plan View, similartoFigure 1, showing the position of cooperation between the various elements of the draft gear, yoke and coupler undera position-of buff; Figure 4 is'an enlarged fragmentary sectiona side elevation of the buifing' piece, the same be-' ing taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 14-4: of Figure 2; 4 .l

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the draft-sills and one'of the wedge blocks'of the draft gear, showing the cooperating guiding elements of the wedge block, the same being taken sub'stantiallyin the plane as indicated by the line 55 of Figure 2; and

Figure'fi is an enlargedsectionalend elevation of the'parts indicated in Figuref5, taken substantially at right angles thereto, the same'being taken substantially in the plane as indicatedby the'line 66- of Figure 2.

The-draft sills 10 of the car structure are shown as secured at the body bolster 12 through the angles 14, securing means, such as the rivets 16, being common to the center bearing casting 18 which is additionally secured as by rivets. 20 to the draft sills, said castingextending toward the end of the car to a point adjacent the aligned keyways '22 and being provided with members 24 forming stops, said members being spacedapart,

reinforced by portions of the striking casting 36,"

said striking casting being also provided with hearing 38 for the coupler 40, the coupler shown being of the Farlow type provided with a horizontal keyway 42 for the reception of a horizontally disposed key 44 extending through keyway 42, aligned keyways 34, and aligned keyways 46 provided in the yoke 30. The coupler butt is provided with an aperture 48 terminating in a' recess 50 provided therein, said aperture and recess being for the reception of the forwardly extending prong of the Farlow draft gear.

Yoke 3D is of the vertical plane type and is provided with a rear wall 52 having an arcuate bearing portion 54 adapted to have cooperative engagement with a complementary bearing portion 56provided on the draft block 58. The draft block 58 is provided with portions 60 extending through the apertures 22, said portions 60 having upwardly and downwardly extending guide portions 62 and 64 disposed on the outside of the vertical webs of the draft sills 10, strengthening reinforcements 66 being provided at any convenient points therein. Bearing or-draft block 58 is provided with sloping or wedge portions 68 terminating in a flat portion "70, portions 68 having bearing engagement with corresponding sloping portions of the transversely disposed bearing blocks 70, said bearing blocks '70 having spring seats 72 thereon and aligned apertures 74 therethrough for the reception of the securing rod or bar 76 provided with proper securing means and a spring cap, between which cap and spring seats a plurality of springs '78 and 80 are provided,

which springs may be regulated through the cap to place the draft gear blocks under an initial compression.

Draft block 82 is provided to complete the friction element assembly, said draft block being provided with sloping faces 84 of substantially thesame angularity as the faces 68 and cooperating with corresponding faces on the friction blocks 70, the draft block 82 being provided with sill engaging members 86 corresponding to the outwardly extending portions 60 of the friction block 58. The friction block 82 is provided with an arcuate bearing surface 88 terminating in recesses 90, said bearing surface 88 being adapted to havev cooperative engagement with a complementary bearing surface on the bufling piece 92, said buffing piece having outwardly extending legs 94 provided with hook portions 96 for engaging the stops 32 under certain conditions of angularity. The buffing piece shown is provided with a forwardly extending prong 98 of the usual Farlow type, said prong being adapted to extend within the aperture 48 and the recess 50 and serving as a guide between the buffing piece and 7 the coupler butt.

In draft, (Figure 2), it will be seen that the coupler 40 moves forward and away from the bufiing piece 92, which however is retainedin position by cooperation between the lugs 96 of 1; the legs 94 and the stops 32. The coupler may continue in its forward movement until the key 44 contacts the end of the keyway 34, shown as provided by the striker casting 36. The key 44 however moves the yoke 30 in a forward direction, causing movement of the friction block 58 through the arcuate surfaces 54 and 56. This movement causes the friction blocks 58 and 82 to approach each other as the block 82 is limited in' its forward movement by the stops 32. This movement then moves the friction blocks '70 outwardly, compressing the springs '78 and to resist movement of the coupler. With this arrangement, the coupler 40 is free to move to an angled position, as movement to this angled position under draft, as illustrated in Figure 2, merely moves the yoke in positions folowing the coupler,

the bearing areas 54 and 56 between the yoke and thefriction block 58 remaining constant whereby a maximum surface of stress transmission is provided.

In buff, the coupler 'buttmoves the friction block 82 away from the stops 32 towardbl'ock'58 held by the stops 24, thereby moving the fric-' tion blocks 70 outwardly, compressing the springs '78 and 80, thereby offering resistance to move,- ment of the coupler. Should then the coupler be angled,as shown in Figure 3, the yokefollows positions of the coupler, it being understood that in buff the end of the yoke is moved into the slot 28 and away from the friction block 58, movement of the friction block having been arrested by the stops 24. In angled position, the coupler butt retains its bearing with the corresponding face of the buffing piece 92, there having been only relative movement between the. arcuatefaces provided on the friction block 82 and the buffing piece 92, but due to these arcuate faces, the bearing surface remains constant, thus providing maximum bearing area for stress transmission betweenthe-yoke and draft gear.

It willthus be seen that a very efficient, compact and advantageous draft gear is provided and one which has many advantages as has been apparent, and it is to be understood that Ido not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be 1apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a draft appliance, the combination of sills having stops thereon, a yoke having spaced arms and a hooded end, draft gear disposed between said arms and having cooperative relation with said stops for stress transmission to said sills, a coupler movably secured to said hooded end, a member cooperating with said coupler and draft gear, said member being disposed between said yoke arms and having a larger dimension than said hooded end whereby said member will never enter said hooded end, said member having an arcuate surface cooperating with a complementary surface onsaid draft gear whereby a substantially constant buff transmitting surface is provided between said coupler and draft gear, and legs provided on said member extending into pockets formed on said draft gear'adjacent certain of said stops, said legs normally contacting said stops to center said member and coupler.

'2. In draft appliance, the combination of center draft sills, stops on said sills a coupler member formed with a couplershank, a draft gear having cooperating friction members associated with said sills and engaging with said stops,

' lififfiii s'fl ra -eaw'ith ani -'arcuate "surface, and a bufling piece hav'ing a =cornplementary arcuate surface a draft "yoke associated "with saiii gea'r 'and con nected to said shank, mfila -bdflixig piece engaging said coupler shank and having swiveling movement relative ito said draft -ge'ar *to provide '5 substantially'constant bearing'area for the "transmission of forces therbetwe'en while "permitting angling of said coupler member, said buffing piece being held in associa'tion with said draft gear by said stops when said coupler member is in draft.

3. In a draft appliance, the combination of center draft sills, stops on said sills, a draft yoke between said sills, a coupler member formed with a coupler stem connected to said yoke and having relative movement therewith, a draft gear in cooperative relation with said yoke and including a plurality of friction members engaging the stops on said sills, and a bufiing piece movable relative to said stem and a friction member, said buffing piece being associated with said stem and friction member and having an arcuate bearing surface cooperating with a complementary bearing surface provided on said friction member to provide a substantially constant bearing area with said friction member for the transmission of buffing forces therebetween while permitting angling of said coupler member, said buffing piece engaging the stops on said sills and being held in association with said draft gear thereby when said coupler member is in draft.

4. In draft appliance, the combination of center draft sills having oppositely disposed slots, stop members adjacent said slots, a coupler member formed with a coupler shank, a draft gear having cooperating friction members received in said slots and associated with said stops, and means cooperating with said coupler shank and draft gear to provide substantially constant bearing area for the transmission of forces therebetween while permitting angling of said coupler member, said means including a draft yoke connected to said coupler stem, and a buffing piece between said stem and said draft gear movable relative thereto and cooperating with said stem, said bufling piece having an arcuate surface cooperating with a complementary surface on a friction member of said gear, said bufiing piece having parts adapted to engage certain of said stops for holding the same in association with said friction member when said coupler is in draft.

5. A friction block for a draft appliance, comprising a body portion formed with an arcuate bearing surface, said arcuate surface terminating in recesses.

6. A friction block for a draft appliance, comprising a wedge shaped body portion, an arcuate bearing surface provided on the forward part of said body portion, said arcuate surface terminating in recesses.

7. In a draft appliance, the combination of a friction block having an arcuate bearing surface, and a bufling piece associated with said block and having a complementary arcuate surface cooperating with the arcuate surface of said block.

8. In a draft appliance, the combination of a draft gear member having an arcuate bearing surface, said arcuate surface terminating in recesses, and a bufiing piece associated with said member and having a complementary arcuate surface cooperating with the arcuate surface of said member, said buffing piece having parts extending into said recesses.

9. In draft appliance, the combination of draft sills provided with stops, a draft gear including cooperating friction members associated with T" said sills and stops, one of said members being cooperatingwi-th thelarcuatesurf ace of said mem- *ber and "having par ts' interposed between :said stops and said memberwhereby saidbuffing piece sills provided with sto'p's, a draft gear including cooperating friction members associated with said sills and stops, one of said members being formed with an arcuate surface, said arcuate surface terminating in recesses, and a buffing piece having a complementary arcuate surface cooperating with the arcuate surface of said member, said surface having parts extending into said recesses and disposed between said stops and said member whereby said buffing piece is held in association therewith during draft.

11. In draft appliance, the combination of center sills, a draft gear including cooperating friction members between said sills, a yoke embracing said members, and means for guiding said draft gear and yoke, said means including a slotted backstop member, and guide portions on certain of said friction members engageable with said center sills.

12. In draft appliance, the combination of center sills, a draft gear including cooperating members between said sills, a slotted backstop member between said sills, one of said friction members being formed with a recess disposed in opposite relation with the slot of said backstop member, certain of said friction members being formed with guide portions engageable with said center sills for maintaining said recess in opposite relation to said slot, and a yoke embracing said friction members and having a part engaging in said recess to permit angling thereof, said part being guided in said slot during transmission of bufiing forces.

13. In draft appliance, the combination of slotted draft sills, a draft gear between said sills and including friction members extending outwardly through said slots, and guide means for said members disposed exteriorly of said sills, said guide means cooperating with said sills for holding said draft gear against lateral displacement during operation thereof.

14. In draft appliance, the combination of slotted draft sills, a draft gear including forward and rear wedge members, and guide members on said wedge members and exteriorly of said sills adapted to cooperate with said sills for holding said draft gear against lateral displacement during operation thereof.

15. In draft appliance, the combination of draft sills provided with stops, a coupler member having a shank, a draft gear associated with said sills and having a forwardly disposed member adapted to engage with said stops, and a bufifing piece movable between said shank and draft gear and cooperating with the same to provide substantially constant bearing area for transmission of buffing forces irrespective of the angling of said coupler member, said bufiing piece having parts disposed between said stops and said draft gear member whereby said bufling piece is held in association therewith when said coupler is in draft.

16. In draft appliance, the combination of draft sills provided with stops, a draft gear associated with said sills and stops and including a forwardly disposed member, said member being formed with an arcuate surface and engaging with said stops, and a buffing piece having a comtherewithduring draft.

surf ace and engaging the stops on said sills, and abufiing piece having a complementary arcuate surface-cooperating with the arcuace surfacecf said member, saidpiece having-parts engaging the stops on said-sills :to hold said .piece in asso ciation with said member I FRANK H. KAYLER. v 

